INMO calls for hospital to be taken off call to deal with 'extremely dangerous' overcrowding
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is calling for disaster protocol to be invoked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, due to severe overcrowding.
The INMO says there are 57 people waiting for an in-patient bed.
The organisation says the crisis requires that the hospital goes off call for at least 24 hours, as the equivalent of two full wards are waiting on trolleys in the Emergency Department.
INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Tony Fitzpatrick said: "The situation is extremely dangerous for patients and staff and the INMO is calling for the hospital to be taken off call immediately.
"Staff are deeply distressed at the level of overcrowding especially as trolleys are now overflowing to the adjoining corridors. They are concerned for the wellbeing of patients and their colleagues as they endeavour to provide safe care to patients."
Mr Fitzpatrick said an urgent review is required of bed capacity within the Louth/Meath Hospital Group and the availability of beds in the community.
He said: "Also there is a requirement for additional community nursing resources in the area to assist in the discharge of patients from hospital."
